About project

The American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment in partnership with the Government of Armenia has launched the Waste Quantity and Composition Study (WQCS) funded by the AUA Manoogian Simone Research Fund (MSRF).

The project will study the quantity and composition of municipal solid waste, construction, and demolition waste, industrial waste, electrical and electronic waste, agricultural and horticultural waste, medical waste, automotive waste by region and community types. For specific waste streams, the project will also assess their calorific value. The results of this study are expected to be ready by the end of September 2019.

The Armenian government’s reform agenda is aimed at achieving EU-approximation within the framework of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and to contribute to Armenia’s commitment to the Sustainability Goals (SDGs) within the Agenda 2030.

The results of the conducted research and analyses will serve as a basis for the Government of Armenia to develop and implement the following:

A comprehensive solid waste governance and management policy based on the principles of circular economy.

Project scope

Assessment of the quantity, composition and, when applicable, calorific-value of each waste stream included in the study scope.

Proposals on management solutions for each waste stream included in the study scope.

Analysis of landfills/dumpsites in Armenia, to find out the annual amount of waste accumulated therein and economic-technical feasibility of waste sorting.

Proposals on waste collection, sorting, transportation, and recycling schemes including the location of the plants and landfills in compliance with the latest technology and EU best practices, regulations, and standards.

Proposals to reduce waste as well as maximize the involvement of secondary material resources in the economic turnover.

Proposals to improve the institutional framework; with the aim of promoting investment in the mentioned solutions and technologies to propose other activities that fully meet the objectives set out in the project ToR.

Project deliverables

The study methodology and data collection.

Training of local staff/experts on methodology.

Critical analysis of major initiatives, policies, and programs on waste management adopted in the last 10 years and suggestions on which solutions to accept and which to modify, particularly from a circular economy perspective.

Report on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the existing and new solid waste by type and by region.

A report on the analysis of value chains, volumes, and logistics.

Evaluation of waste recycling options, including presentation of the opportunity of energy generation from waste.